Thursday, October 15, 2009

Get R Done Friday - A Lost Art!

Welcome to this weeks' segment of GET R DONE FRIDAY!

If you are visiting and would like to join us, please do! It is very easy! All you have to do is:
  • Create post about a project you have completed - it can be something 'crafty', remodeling, planting a vine or a vineyard - it's totally up to you!
  • Link in with the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this post.
  • Visit all the participates and leave a comment so they know you have stopped by.
NOTE: Be sure to refer viewers back to my blog so everyone can see who is participating today, and if you like - include the GET R DONE FRIDAY picture button (seen at the top of today's post) in your write-up. Please have your post up before linking in with a perma-link. Thanks so much!Some years back, mom had repaired and repainted life size statues of the Saints at her home Church. She has photo albums of before and after pictures. The statues are so old - made of plaster or cement - and were deteriorating. Some even had porcelain or glass eyes that were so real it appeared the statue was looking right at you!

She did a fabulous job, and continued getting calls from folks that had cherished relics in their homes needing a touch only she could provide. Some she accepted payment for in the form of donations, some folks just could not pay - and still today she gets calls as her name is passed from here to there. A few weeks ago she got one of those calls...so I decided to go over and learn the 'lost art of statue repair'!Whoops - this isn't the statue, but I think it is a funny photo, so I'll leave it here!

Here we go - this statue is called the Infant of Prague, and it is extremely old. The statue was originally designed to wear different crowns and elaborate gowns during different holy days observed by the Catholic Church. The plaster on the chest area was broken away, right down to some support wires that go to the head and arms. The first steps were to clean the areas carefully using a soft brush. Then, reattachment of any portions of plaster and chips was necessary. They were held in place with a special cement glue. The final filling in was done with Plaster of Paris and more special resins. When dry, sanding to a smooth finished shape was done.Many of the pieces were usable, but a large cavity still needed to be filled. Mom uses dental tools to do some of the finer more detailed molding, shaping, and sculpting. Unfortunately, I misplaced my files of the finished statue, but you can get the idea of how smooth the plaster has to be before paint is applied. Mom does very well at matching paints to the original color, and she touched up the hair and the nose before calling the owner to come and pick up her treasure. It turned out very well, and the lady was so pleased!

Now, tell us about your projects and what you've been working on! Sign in on Mr. Linky below!

10 comments:

^..^Corgidogmama said...

Thank you for solving the cat mystery that has made me wonder for years...what cats did with their feet when they tuck everything under them like that.
What a cool pic!!

Your mom's work would be so detailed and intricate, very time consuming I'm thinking. Not a skill that many have, a lost art!

Marjorie (Molly) Smith said...

great job, you Mom is a very talented lady.
Molly

Chatty Crone said...

I agree with CDM - what an interesting picture.

How intricate that is - having to use dental equipment - the work is so small. And having your mom teach you so the art doesn't die out - way cool.

Angela said...

That sure is a wild picture of that cat sitting on glass! Now, you are going to have to put one of your dogs on that glass so we can see what that looks like too! hehehe

Your mom has a great talent and patience to take on that job of trying to fix those statues. She did a great job on it from what I could tell from your last picture.

Get R Done Friday!
Angela

Unknown said...

Very Interesting and your mom is quite talented...it takes skill to do all of that repair and match everything so completely!

Luved the kitty statue! :)

Barbara Jean said...

Thanks for hosting.
Will be back tomorrow to read everyone's posts.

Blessings

barbara jean

Olde Dame Penniwig said...

Your mom's ability to repair statues is so unique and rare! It's fascinating.

Gail said...

Wow Mom is very talented. First time visiting and have participated in your Mr. Linky party. Thanks for hosting.

Blessings,
Gail

Neabear said...

I think it is cool there still people around to do those kinds of repairs. Indeed a Lost Art. Hope you are having a great Friday!

~Linnea

farmlady said...

Holy cow! That's a REAL cat. I thought it was a statue because you were talking about statues. I was thinking how realistic it was. LOL.

Your Mom is very talented. This is not an easy thing to do. Repairs of this kind take artistic ability and finesse. Does she use acrylics to paint with? It must be such delicate work. Interesting post. Thanks.